Welcome to the RNZIH Notice Board
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During October 2000, this site was extensively redesigned and upgraded by the new webmaster (Murray Dawson). Thanks to the previous webmaster (Andrew Maloy) for his help and encouragement.

We will continue to provide fresh and relevant information and invite comments, web site ideas and contributions from members and others.

New Products and services available through the Horticulture ITO

Over the past 12 months a number of new and revised products and services have become available through the NZ Horticulture ITO. They include:

1. Recognition of prior learning (RPL) which involves awarding a person all or part of a National Certificate in Horticulture qualification on the basis of previous experience and skills. The key features of the RPL programme are available for people who have been working in the horticulture industry in New Zealand for 8 or more years continuously or, if in broken periods 8 years out of 12.
   
   
2. Accelerated assessment also involves awarding a person all or part of a National Certificate in Horticulture qualification on the basis of previous experience and skills. However, Accelerated Assessment differs from RPL in that it makes no assumptions as to the ability of the candidate. Essentially it is a fast track way of obtaining a qualification. Because of the experience of the candidate, the candidate may be assessed immediately rather than having to start the training programme from scratch.
   
   
3. Cross - crediting involves awarding a person credit towards a National Certificate in Horticulture qualification for partially completed or fully completed `old - world` qualifications. There is a formal process involved where old - world completed papers have a corresponding match in terms of a unit standard. The ITO Education Manager uses a cross-crediting database that forms the basis for all cross-crediting decisions.
   
   
4. Modern Apprenticeships in horticulture were introduced in the Modern Apprenticeships Training Act 2000. The purpose of the Act is to encourage and help young people (aged between 16-21) to take up and complete apprenticeship training. Modern Apprenticeships build on the best of apprenticeship traditions with the big difference being the apprentice is assigned a personal mentor to help the apprentice succeed.
   
   
5. Modern Apprenticeships training lead to a National Certificate in Horticulture at Level 4 of the National Qualifications Framework. In addition to skills specific to horticulture, apprentices may learn other skills such as information technology and communication skills. To be eligible for a Modern Apprenticeship a candidate must be 16-21 years old, though provision for older people seeking a career change may be made.
   
   
6. National Diploma in Horticulture (Level 6). This qualification has been revised and re-registered so that it is entirely elective. This allows trainees to select unit standards to suit their own enterprise and career development. Subsidised funding is available through the ITO for trainees in this programme. Trainees select units available through Otago Polytechnic (Cromwell) and study extramurally.
   
   
7. National Certificate in Horticulture (Arboriculture). This qualification was registered by the NZ Qualifications Authority in August 2001. The off - job programme is available through the Waikato and Otago Polytechnics, both of whom are leaders in the field of arboriculture. Trainees can specialise in a number of options including ground worker, basic climber, advanced climber, consultant climber and utility worker.

Further details on any of the above services are available through your nearest HITO Regional Manager:

Auckland/Far North/Waikato/Bay of Plenty: Barb Pownall, Ph (09) 970 1340
Central North Island: Rodney Hickman, Ph (06) 870 6246
Wellington: Mary Dinnis, Ph (04) 233 2712
South Island: Phil Greenless, Ph (03) 964 4738 or Mike Saunders, Ph (03) 964 4775

Freephone 0800 467 844

This information was reproduced with the kind permission of Mike Finlayson CEO of the NZ Horticulture Industry Training Organisation.

Reproduced from the Newsletter of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture 2002, No. 3, December, p. 6.

Chairman's Comments (September 2002)

Spring is definitely in the air. In Auckland at least, most magnolias are past their best, plum trees are coming into flower and the best of the Prunus is yet to come. Soon gardens everywhere will spring fully into life and that part of horticulture compulsory to us all (visiting other people's gardens for pleasure and inspiration) will be in full swing.

Garden Registration Scheme

Most of you will be aware that for the last two or three years the executive committee has been investigating the feasibility of such a scheme. At our last executive meeting (a teleconference) the motion was passed that a RNZIH National Register of Gardens be established. Executive committee member Jayson Kelly has been instrumental in producing and revising business plans, proposals and budgets, which have eventually led to this decision. It has always been of paramount importance to the executive that any such scheme should in no way jeapordise the finances of the Institute. The scheme approved thus far is based on a self-funding principle. It requires 15 'Founding' gardens to sign up to the scheme, or equivalent sponsorship, to get things up and running. The NRG sub-committee consisting of representatives from the Institute, tourism industry and garden owners has already procured some sponsorship to help promote the scheme to potential founding garden owners.

The aim of the NRG is to set up a database that will contain accurate and objective information on gardens that are open to visitors, both public and private. The difference between the Institute NRG and other similar websites, books and databases is that the information provided by the Institute will be true and correct, verified and endorsed by the reputation of the RNZIH. Garden owners will pay to have their gardens assessed and for the information to be available on our database, which will fund the scheme. The database will be made available to tourism and public sector organisations, to be used for garden promotions, both nationally and internationally. Research has shown there is a demand for this type of database. Providing this service will not only raise the profile of the RNZIH and lead to an increase in membership (all gardens on the database will be required to be members) it will go a long way towards furthering one of the main objectives of the Institute, to promote excellence in gardening and horticulture.

Already owners of gardens open to the public are being sent information packs about the scheme and being invited to participate. Depending on founding gardens signing up a final decision to proceed will be made in November, providing the business of the NRG will not put the assets of the RNZIH at risk in any way.

We owe Jayson Kelly a vote of thanks for the huge effort it has taken to finally get this seed, which was sown several years ago, to the point of germinating.

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